Atharva Veda 13.2.45: Kanda 13, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 2, Mantra 45
Sukta 2
पर्य॑स्य महि॒मा पृ॑थि॒वीं स॑मु॒द्रं ज्योति॑षा वि॒भ्राज॒न् परि॒ द्याम॒न्तरि॑क्षम्। सर्वं॑ सं॒पश्य॑न्त्सुवि॒दत्रो॒ यज॑त्र इ॒दं शृ॑णोतु॒ यद॒हं ब्रवी॑मि
páry asya mahimā́ pṛthivī́ṃ samudráṃ jyótiṣā vibhraján párí dyā́m antárikṣam | sárvaṃ saṃpáśyan suvidátró yájatra idáṃ śṛṇotu yád aháṃ bravī́mi
Round him is majesty: with light he shineth over earth and ocean, over heaven and the mid-air. Beholding all, the good bestower, worship-worthy—let him hear this which I speak.
حولَهُ جلالٌ: بنورٍ يلمع فوقَ الأرضِ والبحر، وفوقَ السماءِ والفضاءِ بينهما. ناظرًا إلى كلّ شيء، واهبَ العطايا الصالح، المستحقَّ للعبادة—فليسمعْ هذا الذي أقول.
The meaning
What it says
The majesty of Sūrya surrounds him; with his light he shines over earth and ocean, over heaven and midspace. As the all-seeing, generous, worship-worthy one, he is asked to hear the speaker.
The inner meaning
Light is the mind’s boundary-maker: it defines what is inside/outside, safe/unsafe. By imagining one’s whole environment enclosed in solar radiance, anxiety disperses and vigilance becomes calm rather than paranoid.
The truth in it
Protection is strongest when it is total and non-selective: what is brought into the light—seen, named, and witnessed—loses its capacity to harm from hiding.
What it is for
- Kind of hymn
- Apotropaic (cosmic enclosure) / Paustika (success through solar sanction)
Its aim
To establish a total protective enclosure over the patron’s environment (earth–sea–sky–midspace) by solar light, ensuring success and warding off pervasive dangers.
Word by Word
Pada patha
परि॑ । अ॒स्य॒ । म॒हि॒मा । पृ॒थि॒वीम् । स॒मु॒द्रम् । ज्योति॑षा । वि॒-भ्राज॑न् । परि॑ । द्याम् । अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । सर्व॑म् । सं॒-पश्य॑न् । सु॒-विद॑त्रः । यज॑त्रः । इ॒दम् । शृ॒णो॒तु॒ । यत् । अ॒हम् । ब्रवी॑मि
- पर्यस्य
- of him / hisPronounपुं/नपुं, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)Root पर्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘पर्य’ = ‘परि’ उपसर्गयुक्त ‘अस्’/‘अस्य’ सर्वनाम-रूप) → अस्य
- महिमा
- greatness, majestygreatness, majesty; overwhelming potencyNounपुं, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विषय (subject)Root महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथिवीम्
- the earthNounस्त्री, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- समुद्रम्
- the oceanthe ocean/sea; the enclosing waters (cosmic boundary)Nounपुं, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- ज्योतिषा
- with lightwith light; by luminous power (instrument of purification)Nounनपुं, तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- विभ्राजन्
- shining forth, illuminatingshining forth widely; flashing out (diffusive radiance)Verb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंRole कर्तृ (agent participle)Root √भ्राज् (दीप्तौ) + वि-
- परि
- around, all aboutaround; encompassing (protective encirclement)Indeclinableअव्ययRole उपपद-सम्बन्ध (direction/extent)Root परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- द्याम्
- the heaven, skyheaven/sky (upper domain)Nounस्त्री, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot द्यौ/दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्तरिक्षम्
- the midspace, atmospheremidspace/atmosphere (intermediate realm)Nounनपुं, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- सर्वम्
- all (everything)all; the entire totalityAdjective (used substantively)नपुं, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- संपश्यन्
- seeing completely, beholdingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंRole कर्तृRoot √पश् (दर्शने) + सम्-
- सुविदत्रः
- good-knowing, well-discerninggood bestower; giver of good finding/successAdjectiveपुं, प्रथमा एकवचनRole विशेषण (of the subject)Root सु-विदत्र (प्रातिपदिक; सु + विदत्र ‘knower/one who finds/obtains’)
- यजत्रः
- worshipful, worthy of sacrificeworthy of worship; fit recipient of riteAdjectiveपुं, प्रथमा एकवचनRole विशेषण (of the subject)Root यजत्र (प्रातिपदिक; ‘worthy of worship’)
- इदम्
- thisPronounनपुं, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम)
- शृणोतु
- let (him) hearlet him hear; let him heedVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, प्रथम पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रिया (predicate)Root √श्रु (श्रवणे)
- यत्
- what, that whichwhat; that whichPronoun (relative)नपुं, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (of ‘ब्रवीमि’)Root यद् (सर्वनाम)
- अहम्
- IPronounप्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अहम् (सर्वनाम)
- ब्रवीमि
- I speak, I sayI utter; I pronounce (performative speech)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, उत्तम पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रिया (predicate)Root √ब्रू (वचने)
Sandhi Notes
- पर्य॑स्य = परि + अस्य (वेदिक-उच्चारण सहित)
- महि॒मा (महिमा) स्वतंत्र
- पृ॑थि॒वीं (पृथिवीम्) स्वतंत्र
- स॑मु॒द्रं (समुद्रम्) स्वतंत्र
- ज्योति॑षा स्वतंत्र
- वि॒भ्राज॒न् = वि- + भ्राजन् (शतृ-कृदन्त)
- परि स्वतंत्र
- द्याम॒न्तरि॑क्षम् = द्याम् + अन्तरिक्षम् (म् + अ → म् अ, संधि-लेखन में संयुक्त)
- सं॒पश्य॑न्त् = सम्- + पश्यन् (शतृ)
- सुवि॒दत्रो॒ यज॑त्र = सुविदत्रः + यजत्रः (विसर्ग-लोप/ओ-रूप वेदिक संधि)
- शृ॑णोतु स्वतंत्र
- यद॒हं = यत् + अहम् (त् + अ → द् अ, वेदिक)
- ब्रवी॑मि स्वतंत्र।
Seer, deity and metre
- Rishi
- Solar complex attribution (variable).
- Devata
- Sūrya/Āditya (light as encompassing majesty)
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh (probable)
- Rasa
- Shanta and Adbhuta
Sāyaṇa reads the verse as an expansion of solar pervasion: earth, sea, heaven, and atmosphere are all encompassed by his ‘mahiman’ and made effective by ‘jyotis’ (light as operative instrument). The repeated refrain (śṛṇotu… bravīmi) is again a demand for divine ratification of the rite; the cosmic sweep legitimates the mantra’s protective reach over all spatial domains.
Sūrya-Āditya complex (anukramaṇī-variable; Atharvanic solar seer-group)
Shāntika/apotropaic enclosure by light; paustika success through solar sanction and vigilance.
Embodies Atharvan ‘pari-’ magic: creating a protective circumference (paridhi) through cosmic imagery rather than physical barricades.
Sūrya/Āditya (light as encompassing majesty)
Radiant sovereign whose light covers the three worlds; makes all beings and actions visible to ṛta.
Supports circadian alignment, mental clarity, and the ‘warming’ of vitality; metaphorically ‘dries’ damp lethargy and fear.
Creates total enclosure over spaces (earth–sea–sky–midspace), warding pervasive and unseen dangers.
4 pādas of ~11 syllables; closing refrain parallels 13.2.44.
Triṣṭubh with formulaic repetition (‘idaṃ śṛṇotu…’) functioning like a liturgical seal.
Enclosing, panoramic cadence—each pāda widens the circumference (earth→ocean→heaven→midspace).
Produces a felt ‘sphere’ around the chanter; useful for boundary-setting and pacification.
The priest performs a clockwise circumambulation of the house, patient, or ritual area while reciting the mantra, matching ‘parí’ with the physical circling.
At the four quarters, he pauses and raises a lamp/firebrand or a vessel of water reflecting sunlight, enacting ‘jyótiṣā vibhraján’.
He returns to the east, recites the final refrain, and touches the threshold or central post to ‘seal’ the enclosure.
If for a patron’s protection, the priest then places the patron within the circled space and repeats ‘śṛṇotu’ as a final sanction.
Kauśika Sūtra: used in protective circumambulation and space-securing rites (dik-bandhana / paryāya-type actions) with solar mantras; exact sūtra mapping depends on AV 13.2 prayoga tradition.
Atharvan as spatial engineer of protection: he converts cosmic pervasion into a bounded, ritually secured domestic perimeter.
Recite while mentally ‘circling’ the house or drawing a clockwise circle with the right hand; suitable before travel or at dusk/dawn when boundaries feel thin.
Sunrise for empowerment; twilight for pacification of liminal fears.
Householder-led; a purohita may integrate it into a larger śānti sequence.
Use as a protective visualization before entering crowded/uncertain environments; pair with practical safety planning.
samudra (ocean) named as a domain to be illumined and pacified
Light serves as the non-material amulet: it ‘covers’ all realms, especially liminal spaces (antarikṣa) where Atharvanic danger is imagined to concentrate.
Stress-reduction through guided imagery of safe enclosure; helpful adjunct for anxiety and hypervigilance (non-clinical support).
Household space, travel route, work-field, and the patron’s social ‘atmosphere’.
To establish a comprehensive protective enclosure by solar light across all domains of the patron’s world.
‘Cosmic mapping’ + enclosure (pari…pari…)—a verbal circumambulation that functions like a protective boundary-line.
Pervasive dangers: unseen hostility, accidents in transit (antarikṣa), watery risks (samudra), and general ill-omens.
Safe expansion of activity; success without hidden loss.
- महिमा (mahimā)
- aura of authority; the field of order that stabilizes life
- ज्योतिषा (jyotiṣā)
- illumination as protection; consciousness that dispels concealment
- पृथिवी (pṛthivī)
- the tangible life-domain: home, body, livelihood
- समुद्र (samudra)
- the vast unknown—emotions, risks, collective forces
- द्याम् (dyām)
- higher aims, fate, law, oversight
- अन्तरिक्षम् (antarikṣam)
- the in-between: transitions, travel, communications—where dangers often arise
- सर्वं संपश्यन् (sarvaṃ saṃpaśyan)
- complete coverage—no loopholes for malevolent forces
Bhāvanā of a luminous protective sphere expanding to include body, home, and horizon.
anāhata
Box-breath 4–4–4–4 while visualizing concentric light expanding with each inhale.
A golden dome of light sealing the four directions and the spaces between.
Pacified vigilance (calm alertness).
Chant once while facing east, then rotate to south/west/north, sealing each quarter with the refrain ‘idaṃ śṛṇotu…’.
Even, panoramic delivery; slightly broaden vowels on ‘jyotiṣā vibhrajān’ to ‘shine’ in sound.
Keep ‘pari…pari…’ as clear boundary-markers; pause lightly after each realm (pṛthivīm / samudram / dyām / antarikṣam).
Warm, enveloping tone; not forceful.
Works well as a ‘paridhi’ (verbal boundary) before sleep, travel, or entering disputed spaces.
3 times
Moving house, starting travel, beginning a new job, entering conflict-prone environments.
At sunrise or just before departure; also at twilight for boundary-setting.
Sense of protection, reduced fear of hidden risks, steadier focus on safe action.
Do not substitute chanting for concrete safeguards (insurance, planning, medical care).
Again none is explicit; the ‘substance’ is jyotis (light) functioning as a universal purifier. This is consistent with Atharvanic substitution: where herbs are absent, cosmic elements (light, wind, fire) serve as curative agents.
The priest’s speech claims jurisdiction over all domains (earth/sea/sky), implying that domestic ritual can command cosmic-scale protection—an ideological elevation of Atharvanic practice within Vedic society.
The cosmographic listing (earth–ocean–heaven–midspace) is RV-familiar; the Atharvanic tendency lies in its direct operationalization for enclosure rites (parí as both semantic and ritual instruction).
Through correspondences between cosmic ‘paryāpti’ (encompassing) and ritual parikrama (circumambulation): the rite works because it imitates and thereby harnesses the Sun’s all-surrounding reach.
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